Curry can kill cancer cells, say Irish researchers

Research carried out by University College Cork has revealed that turmeric, the spice used to make curries, contains molecules that can kill esophageal cancer cells.

Lab tests at the Cork Cancer Research Center showed that the chemical curcumin, found in turmeric, started destroying the throat cancer cells within a day after being treated.

The findings from the Cork researchers were published in the latest edition of the British Journal of Cancer.

Director of the Cork Cancer Research Centre at UCC, Professor Gerald O'Sullivan, said that the findings could lead to the development of the naturally occurring chemical into a treatment in the fight against esophageal cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 16,470 cases of esophageal diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and 14,530 people die of the disease in the States every year.

Around 350 people are diagnosed with the disease each year in Ireland.

So eat up that curry, and don’t complain that it burns your throat. Looks like that could be a very, very good thing.